Hendrick Teammates Johnson, Bowman Living on Edge as Playoffs Loom
September 08, 2018 | By Phillip B. Wilson
Alex Bowman is the young driver trying to make a NASCAR name for himself with a breakthrough season. Jimmie Johnson is one of the sport’s biggest names with a legendary career of accomplishments that includes seven Cup titles.
It’s an eyebrow-raising surprise that the Hendrick Motorsports teammates are next to each other in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs standings, with Johnson in 15th and Bowman on the Playoffs’ bubble in 16th.
It also shows how competitive the series is entering the final race before the playoff cutoff, the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line on Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“Being right there on the bubble with a seven-time champion is definitely interesting,” Bowman said Saturday, before qualifying was postponed due to rain. “There’s definitely drama. It’s not the closest points race, but somebody behind you can win.”
Although Bowman is 68 points ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for that final spot, any first-time race winner for the season earns an automatic berth. If that would occur, one of the Hendrick drivers could be out. And the list of drivers who could pull that off includes former Brickyard winners Ryan Newman (17th), Paul Menard (19th) and Jamie McMurray (21st).
Despite enduring a frustrating season in which Johnson has admittedly pushed at times and faulted himself for being overly aggressive, the 42-year-old Californian has reason to be confident at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He won the Brickyard in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2012.
“I couldn’t even put into words what (another win) would mean,” said Johnson, who drives the No. 48 Lowe’s for Pros Chevrolet. “We have worked so hard. We’ve had some good moments along the way that could have turned into great moments. Mistakes on my behalf, the team, whatever it might be, bad luck, misfortune, we’ve just not been able to capitalize on opportunities that have been there, plus we’ve had a tough year.
“So it’s been extremely frustrating, extremely difficult to live through, but we all still are very eager to turn it around, and know we will. A win is the way to turn it around. We’ve seen this team get hot at times, and we’ve been unstoppable. A win would be a starting point of that.”
There’s something about the IMS 2.5-mile oval that brings out the best in Johnson, who was again in the hunt for victory last year at the Brickyard. He was trying to pass for the lead in Turn 3 in the final laps, but an oil leak sent him into the wall. In addition to his four wins, he’s been second at the Brickyard in 2013 and third in 2016.
“It’s a very difficult track, and it took me quite a few years to get the right rhythm to figure it out,” he said. “It is a very unique track, like Dover, like Martinsville. Some of those more challenging and unique tracks I’ve just always taken to and had good luck at and success at. Indy fits in that category.
“Like Martinsville my first few trips there, there was no way I thought I would win. Then once I got it, it started to come. This could be a very big turnaround race for us. I definitely believe that and feel it.”
Bowman, 25, of Tucson, Arizona, is in his first full-time season with Hendrick Motorsports after sitting out all of 2017. He made 10 starts with three top-10 results in 2016 as a replacement driver for an injured Dale Earnhardt Jr. When “Junior” announced his retirement after last season ended, Bowman eventually was hired to drive the No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet.
“It’s no secret it’s been a rough year for us and for all of Hendrick Motorsports, but we’re still in contention for the Playoffs,” Bowman said. “That’s cool to be a part of. It’s vastly different than anything else I’ve done in my career and any other position I’ve been in in the Cup Series. It’s a pretty vulnerable spot, coming to Indy with three guys who have won here behind you in points that haven’t won yet. I think we can get the job done as good as they can. I’m excited. It would be a great thing to be a part of the playoffs. Hopefully we’re in it.”
Bowman has nine top-10 finishes in 25 starts this season, including third at Pocono and fifth at Bristol. He started the season by winning the pole for the Daytona 500, but finished 17th. Johnson has had eight top-10 finishes in 25 starts, with a third at Bristol and fifth at Concord.
“It would mean a lot to me to be in the Playoffs right off the bat,” Bowman said. “From what I came from and kind of going through everything I went through, to make the Playoffs in my first year with (Hendrick) would be really special.
“I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch because I’ll jinx myself and ‘bad-luck Bowman’ will come out and somebody will win on fuel mileage or something, and I’ll be out. But it’s cool to be in this position, and just hopefully we can pull it off.”
Although Johnson is such a celebrated champion, he was asked to explain how he could make the mistakes he’s made this year to be in this tenuous spot.
“We’re all human, you know?” he said. “I’ve made a mistake and then I’ve also made compounding mistakes. It’s all part of it … When something’s not going right, you just try harder and harder. We’re all human. And it’s just part of it. So I just need to stop doing that (laughs). Easier said than done.”
He’s still supremely confident that everything can change on race day.
“My optimism to turn things around is because I’ll never give up,” Johnson said. “I just won’t. There are a lot of reasons for that. First and foremost is me and who I am. Secondly, I drive for Hendrick Motorsports. We will figure it out. It might not come at the pace we want it to, but we will figure it out.”